U.S. patent application number 10/441037 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for file information reproducing apparatus and file information reproducing method.
Invention is credited to Miyazawa, Akira.
Application Number | 20030228131 10/441037 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29545874 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030228131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miyazawa, Akira |
December 11, 2003 |
File information reproducing apparatus and file information
reproducing method
Abstract
Information indicative of a full reproduction time of input file
information is acquired, the file information is equally divided
into a plurality of preset areas in time based on the acquired
information, and a requested area among a plurality of the divided
areas is selectively reproduced.
Inventors: |
Miyazawa, Akira;
(Tachikawa-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
29545874 |
Appl. No.: |
10/441037 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
386/343 ;
348/E5.101; 348/E5.103; 348/E5.108; 348/E5.123; 386/E5.001;
G9B/27.012; G9B/27.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/8456 20130101;
H04N 21/6143 20130101; G11B 2220/2562 20130101; H04N 5/602
20130101; G11B 2220/455 20130101; H04N 5/85 20130101; H04N 5/76
20130101; H04N 9/8042 20130101; G11B 2220/61 20130101; H04N 21/4184
20130101; H04N 21/434 20130101; G11B 27/105 20130101; H04N 5/907
20130101; G11B 27/034 20130101; H04N 5/4401 20130101; H04N 5/44508
20130101; G11B 2220/216 20130101; H04N 21/47217 20130101; G11B
2220/2575 20130101; H04N 21/42661 20130101; H04N 5/781 20130101;
H04N 21/426 20130101; H04H 40/90 20130101; H04N 21/42646 20130101;
H04N 21/4325 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/46 ;
386/124 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/76 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2002 |
JP |
2002-166860 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A file information reproducing apparatus comprising: an
acquisition portion configured to acquire information indicative of
a full reproduction time of input file information; a division
portion configured to equally divide the file information into a
plurality of preset areas in time based on the information acquired
by the acquisition portion; and a reproduction portion configured
to selectively reproduce a requested area among a plurality of the
areas divided by the division portion.
2. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the division portion is configured to be capable of
changing a divisor of the file information.
3. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the reproduction portion includes an operator used to
sequentially reproduce a plurality of the areas which are divided
by the division portion and continuous in time every time an
operation is carried out.
4. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the reproduction portion includes an operator used to
reproduce a plurality of the areas which are divided by the
division portion and continuous in time by performing skip for a
number of times of operations carried out in a predetermined
time.
5. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the acquisition portion is configured to acquire
information indicative of a full reproduction time added to the
input file information.
6. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the acquisition portion includes an arithmetic operation
portion configured to calculate a full reproduction time from the
input file information.
7. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the arithmetic operation portion is configured to calculate
a full reproduction time of the file information based on a data
rate obtained by reproducing the input file information for a
predetermined time and information indicative of an entire data
amount added to the file information.
8. A file information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the acquisition portion includes: a judgment portion
configured to judge whether information indicative of a full
reproduction time is added to the input file information; and an
arithmetic operation portion configured to calculate a full
reproduction time from the file information if it is determined
that the information indicative of a full reproduction time is not
added by the judgment portion.
9. A digital broadcasting reception apparatus which receives
digital broadcasting and reproduces its file information,
comprising: an acquisition portion configured to acquire
information indicative of a full reproduction time of the file
information obtained by reception; a division portion configured to
equally divide the file information into a plurality of preset
areas in time based on the information acquired by the acquisition
portion; and a reproduction portion configured to selectively
reproduce a requested area among a plurality of the areas divided
by the division portion.
10. A digital broadcasting reception apparatus according to claim
9, wherein the acquisition portion is configured to acquire
information indicative of a full reproduction time added to the
file information obtained by reception.
11. A digital broadcasting reception apparatus according to claim
9, wherein the acquisition portion includes an arithmetic operation
portion configured to calculate a full reproduction time from the
file information obtained by reception.
12. A digital broadcasting reception apparatus according to claim
11, wherein the arithmetic operation portion is configured to
calculate a full reproduction time of the file information based on
a data rate obtained by reproducing the file information obtained
by reception for a predetermined time and information indicative of
an entire data amount added to the file information.
13. A digital broadcasting reception apparatus according to claim
9, wherein the acquisition portion includes: a judgment portion
configured to judge whether information indicative of a full
reproduction time is added to the file information obtained by
reception; and an arithmetic operation portion configured to
calculate a full reproduction time from the file information if it
is determined that the information indicative of a full
reproduction time is not added by the judgment portion.
14. A file information reproducing method comprising: acquiring
information indicative of a full reproduction time of input file
information; equally dividing the file information into a plurality
of areas in time based on the acquired information; and selectively
reproducing a requested area among a plurality of the divided
areas.
15. A file information reproducing method according to claim 14,
wherein acquisition of the information indicative of a full
reproduction time of the input file information is carried out by
acquiring information indicative of a full reproduction time added
to the input file information.
16. A file information reproducing method according to claim 14,
wherein acquisition of the information indicative of a full
reproduction time of the input file information is carried out by
calculating a full reproduction time from the input file
information.
17. A file information reproducing method according to claim 16,
wherein calculation of a full reproduction time of the input file
information is carried out based on a data rate obtained by
reproducing the input file information for a predetermined time and
information indicative of an entire data amount added to the file
information.
18. A file information reproducing method according to claim 14,
wherein acquisition of the information indicative of a full
reproduction time of the input file information includes: judging
whether information indicative of a full reproduction time is added
to the input file information; and calculating a full reproduction
time from the file information if it is determined that the
information indicative of a full reproduction time is not added.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
2002-166860, filed Jun. 7, 2002, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus and
a reproducing method to reproduce a video file or an audio file,
and more particularly to a file information reproducing apparatus
and a file information reproducing method which can reproduce a
video file or an audio file recorded on a digital recording medium
as typified by a disk, a memory card and the like based on
conditions which can be set by a user.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As is well known, in recent years, the spread of a
direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) digital broadcasting has enabled
high-quality video signals or high-quality audio signals to be
supplied from various kinds of distributors.
[0006] As a recording apparatus which can record a high-quality
digital video signal or a high-quality digital audio signal as a
digital signal without making any change, there is widely used a
recorder having a built-in hard disk, a DVD-RAM recorder which
utilizes a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disk-Random Access Memory) as
a recording medium for digital signals, or the like.
[0007] Further, in the Internet, it is possible to readily obtain
audio files which are compressed in compliance with an MP3 [MPEG
(Moving Video Experts Group) -1 Audio Layer 3] compression mode for
audio signals or an MPEG-2 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) compression
mode which is a standard for digital broadcasting.
[0008] This kind of audio file can be stored in a recording medium
for digital signals, e.g., a memory card. It is to be noted that
there has appeared a portable player which reproduces an audio file
from a memory card having audio files stored therein.
[0009] The above-described recording medium for digital signals
realizes various functions which are hard to be realized by a
recording medium oriented to a recording mode managed by elapse of
time as typified by a video tape or an audio cassette tape adopting
a known analog mode.
[0010] For example, in a recorder having a built-in hard disk,
video or audio which has already been recorded can be reproduced
independently from elapse of time. Therefore, there is realized a
time shift function as typified by a function enabling video
reproduction with an arbitrary length from an arbitrary position
while recording that video material, a function enabling continuous
reproduction of video or audio from a pause position when the pause
is canceled after setting the pause with the video or audio being
continuously supplied.
[0011] Furthermore, as a common characteristic of recording mediums
for digital signals capable of digital recording, there is an
advantage that rewinding of a file can be instantaneously
performed.
[0012] In a known recording method using a tape-like medium, when
performing rewinding of a file, a tape is generally traveled at a
high speed to the vicinity of a reproduction position to which the
tape is to be rewound (from which it is reproduced), or to a preset
counter value by an operation of a user. Then, low-speed
reproduction or the like is carried out by an operation of the
user, and the reproduction position is searched from information
near the reproduction position. That is, in the known recording
method using the tape medium, a tape (recording medium) must be
physically set at a reproduction position.
[0013] On the other hand, in a recording medium for digital signals
enabling digital recording, e.g., a recorder having a built-in hard
disk or a DVD-RAM recorder, a reproduction position of the
recording medium does not have to be physically set as different
from the tape medium. That is, it is good enough to directly
indicate a position from which information is reproduced by using
an input device such as an operation panel or a remote
controller.
[0014] In case of dynamically searching the reproduction position,
however, such search is enabled by fast-forward or rewind of a tape
in a mode using a tape medium, but a mode which changes a speed of
reproducing video or audio forms a main stream in the recording
medium for digital signals because it does not have a concept of
fast-forward or rewind. By this means, discontinuous video or audio
is reproduced in many cases.
[0015] In order to prevent the discontinuous video or audio from
being reproduced, there has been made many proposals to determine a
reproduction position specified by a user as a reference and enable
dynamic fast-forward or rewind of video or audio in the vicinity of
that position when reproducing video or audio from a recording
medium for digital signals as typified by a recorder having a
built-in hard disk or a memory card.
[0016] For example, there has been proposed a function which
enables skip to a specified reproduction position if the
reproduction position which is to be dynamically searched in one
file is specified by a user in advance. In order to enable this
function, however, a user must set the reproduction position in
advance. Therefore, the user must grasp the reproduction position
to be specified in advance, which is not practical in view of
complication.
[0017] Moreover, there has been proposed a function which performs
skip for a fixed time when skip is directed. However, a time
defined as an interval to be skipped is constant irrespective of a
length of a file. Therefore, there is a problem that an interval to
be skipped is relatively long in a short file whilst an interval to
be skipped is relatively short in a long file.
[0018] As described above, the conventional function which can
arbitrarily skip to an arbitrary point in a file when reproducing
the video or audio by using the digital recording apparatus is not
a versatile function with respect to complication of the user
operation or files having various lengths.
[0019] It is to be noted that Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI No.
2002-125199 discloses that a frame used for special reproduction is
selectively extracted from video data, and positional information
and information indicative of a display time in original video data
of the extracted frame are generated and utilized for special
reproduction.
[0020] However, this publication does not disclose any resolution
of each problem corresponding to complication of the user operation
concerning skip or various file lengths described above.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a file information reproducing apparatus comprising:
[0022] an acquisition portion configured to acquire information
indicative of a full reproduction time of input file
information;
[0023] a division portion configured to equally divide the file
information into a plurality of preset areas in time based on the
information acquired by the acquisition portion; and
[0024] a reproduction portion configured to selectively reproduce a
requested area among a plurality of the areas divided by the
division portion.
[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a file information reproducing method comprising:
[0026] acquiring information indicative of a full reproduction time
of input file information;
[0027] equally dividing the file information into a plurality of
present areas in time based on the acquired information; and
[0028] selectively reproducing a requested area among a plurality
of the divided areas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating an embodiment
according to the present invention taking a digital broadcasting
reception apparatus which has a built-in hard disk and is capable
of recording as an example;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a view for conceptually illustrating a skip
operation for a file in the embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a plan view for illustrating an example of an
input device which inputs a skip command for a file in the
embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for illustrating an example of a skip
operation for a file in the embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating another example of
the skip operation for a file in the embodiment; and
[0034] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating still another example
of the skip operation for a file in the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] A preferred embodiment according to the present invention
will now be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a digital broadcasting
reception apparatus 1 which will be described in connection with
this embodiment. This digital broadcasting reception apparatus 1
has a function to receive satellite television broadcasting and the
like, and a function to record/reproduce digital data such as video
or audio with respect to a recording medium.
[0036] In this digital broadcasting reception apparatus 1, an
arbitrary frequency component in a digital satellite broadcasting
signal supplied from a non-illustrated direct-broadcast satellite
(DBS) and received from an antenna 101 is selectively taken out by
a tuner 2.
[0037] It is to be noted that the digital satellite broadcasting
signal corresponds programs set to the arbitrary number of channels
and individual channels, i.e., video data, audio data and SI
information (Service Information) multiplexed from a
non-illustrated direct-broadcast station or repeater station in the
form of a signal.
[0038] A component of an arbitrary channel is selected from the
satellite broadcasting signal taken out by the tuner 2 based on a
control signal output from a control circuit, i.e., a CPU [Central
Processing Unit (a reproduction portion, an acquisition portion, an
arithmetic operation portion, a division portion)] 3.
[0039] The selected component of the arbitrary channel, i.e., the
video data and the audio data are demodulated by a non-illustrated
demodulation circuit, and then input to an error correction circuit
4 where they are subjected to error correction.
[0040] The component of the arbitrary channel output after error
connection by the error correction circuit 4 is supplied to a
scramble control circuit 5. If the component of the channel is a
signal subjected to scramble processing, it is descrambled.
[0041] That is, if the video data and the audio data of the
arbitrary channel received through the antenna have been scrambled,
scrambling is canceled before separating them into original
multiplexed components.
[0042] The reception signal of the arbitrary channel descrambled by
the scramble control circuit 5 is input to a multi-data separation
circuit 6, and it is separated to the arbitrary number of packets
based on identification information, i.e., an ID included in a bit
stream constituting the reception signal.
[0043] Program information separated from the SI information by the
multi-data separation circuit 6 (packet on which program
information is carried among the arbitrary number of packets) is
input to the control circuit (CPU) 3.
[0044] In addition, the packet on which the video data is carried
is input to an MPEG video reproduction circuit (reproduction
portion) 8 using image compression of, e.g., an MPEG mode, and a
packet on which the audio data is carried is input to an MPEG audio
reproduction circuit (reproduction portion) 7 using audio
compression of, e.g., an MPEG-2 mode, respectively.
[0045] The video data input to the MPEG video reproduction circuit
8 is decoded from compressed and encoded data by decoding
processing, and output to an OSD (On Screen Display) circuit 9 used
to superimpose a character or a specific code on that video
signal.
[0046] It is to be noted that to the OSD circuit 9 is supplied an
OSD data signal required for video display in the SI information
which is input from the multi-data separation circuit 6 to the
control circuit 3 and acquired by the control circuit 3.
[0047] The OSD data signal input to the OSD circuit 9 is
superimposed on the video signal by the OSD circuit 9, and input to
a non-illustrated video display circuit as a reproduction video
signal obtained by superimposing a character or a specific code on
the video signal.
[0048] Although not described in detail, the video display circuit
converts the reproduction video signal into a video output signal
suitable for a display mode of the video display apparatus
connected as a video display device, and reproduces (displays) the
video in the connected video display device.
[0049] The audio data input to the MPEG audio reproduction circuit
7 is decoded from the compressed and encoded data by decoding
processing, amplified according to needs, and output to a
non-illustrated audio reproduction apparatus as an audio
signal.
[0050] To the multi-data separation circuit 6 is connected a hard
disk drive (HDD) 10 which can record the video data and audio data.
Incidentally, in case of recording the received program in the hard
disk drive 10, the control circuit 3 applies content protection to
the stream and this stream is output to the hard disk drive 10
together with attribute information of the program.
[0051] Additionally, there is provided an information
recording/reproducing device 111 capable of recording/reproducing
video information or audio information with respect to, e.g., a
known DVD-RAM type disk which is a recording medium on which
digital signals can be recorded. Further, there is provided an
information recording/reproducing device 121 in which a known
recording medium, e.g., a memory card on which digital signals can
be recorded can be utilized.
[0052] It is to be noted that the information recording/reproducing
devices 111 and 121 can be connected to the multi-data separation
circuit 6 through predetermined interfaces 110 and 120,
respectively, and a recording mode or the like relative to the
number of these devices or their recording mediums can be arbitrary
set.
[0053] To the control circuit 3 is connected a remote control
interface 11 which receives a command from, e.g., a remote
controller (user operation portion) 99 which enables operations by
a user at a position distanced from the digital broadcasting
reception apparatus 1, and can output a corresponding control
signal to the control circuit 3.
[0054] To the remote controller 99 are provided skip buttons
(operators) 99a and 99b which can input a skip signal used to skip
video or audio recorded on an arbitrary recording medium in a
predetermined cycle, as will be described later in connection with,
e.g., FIG. 3.
[0055] It is to be noted that the skip button 99a can direct the
control circuit 3 skip of the video or audio for one skip area in,
e.g., a forward direction (direction of elapse of time) every time
it is pressed, and the skip button 99b can direct the control
circuit 3 skip of the video or the audio for one skip area in,
e.g., a backward direction (direction of retracing) every time it
is pressed.
[0056] To the control circuit 3 is connected a skip frequency
setting circuit 31 capable of counting the number of times that
skip is directed from the remote controller 99 (capable of
identifying whether the skip button is pressed until a
predetermined time elapses after turning on the skip button).
[0057] Although the detail will be described later, counting the
number of times that the skip buttons 99a and 99b have been turned
on in a fixed period of time by the skip frequency setting circuit
31 can skip and reproduce a plurality of divided areas which are
continuous in time for the number of times of operations in a
predetermined time.
[0058] To the control circuit 3 is connected a file time
acquisition circuit (the acquisition portion, the arithmetic
operation portion) 32 which acquires time lengths of all the files
in order to skip the video and audio recorded on the recording
medium for a predetermined time when skip of the video and audio in
the reproduction process is directed by the remote controller 99 or
a non-illustrated input key [which is widely known as a jog lever
(pad) or a cross switch (pad)] which is often provided at a
predetermined position of the main body of the digital broadcasting
reception apparatus 1. It is to be noted that the file time
acquisition circuit 32 may be provided as firmware of the control
circuit 3.
[0059] With reference to FIG. 4, description will now be given as
to a reproducing method by which a total time of files is divided
at a fixed rate and skip is carried out when reproducing the video
file and the audio file recorded on a non-tape type recording
medium for digital signals by the digital broadcasting reception
apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, when a scene skip is directed from a
user operation portion (remote controller 99) during reproduction
of a program, a scene skip portion performs skip from a
reproduction position where reproduction is currently carried out
to a scene at a position obtained by dividing a time of the entire
file at a fixed rate of, e.g., {fraction (1/10)}.
[0061] A divisor can be of course arbitrarily set. It is to be
noted that, after skip, reproduction starts from a position reached
by skip by control of the control circuit 3 functioning as a
reproduction start portion.
[0062] In detail, when "skip" is directed by a user with a timing
shown in FIG. 2 (assuming that the skip key 99a of the remote
controller 99 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed for, e.g., one time) at an
arbitrary time of reproducing the video and audio recorded in the
hard disk drive 10, namely, at a reproduction position, a total
reproduction time of one program (file) is obtained by the file
time acquisition circuit 32 (S1).
[0063] Then, the obtained file total reproduction time is divided
based on a preset "skip number", a scene skip enabled state is set,
and, e.g., the skip key 99a of the remote controller 99 is pressed
for one time. As a result, a top of the next skip area (block
{circle over (4)} in FIG. 2) to be moved, namely, a read position
in the recording medium is set from the middle point in the skip
area (block {circle over (3)} in FIG. 2) including the reproduction
position at which the video and the audio are currently reproduced
(S2).
[0064] It is to be noted that the skip number is, e.g., "10" in
this example. Further, the processing to acquire the file total
reproduction time in the file time acquisition circuit 32 is not
carried out only after reproduction of the video or audio recorded
in the recording medium is directed, but it may be executed after
the later-described skip operation is performed (skip button is
turned on).
[0065] Subsequently, when the head is actually moved, the read
position at which the video and audio are read from the recording
medium is skipped to the reproduction position after the directed
skip (S3). Then, the video and audio are continuously reproduced
from the time (reproduction position) reached by skip at the step
S3 (S4).
[0066] As described above, with the skip control shown in FIG. 4,
it is possible to obtain the function to start reproduction of the
video and audio by skipping from the position at which reproduction
is currently effected to a scene obtained by dividing the entire
file at a given fixed rate.
[0067] It is to be noted that the above-described "skip number" can
be arbitrarily changed by storing, e.g., a program and an entry
(numeric value input) method used to set a skip number in the firm
memory.
[0068] For example, after displaying a "skip number" setting screen
by a specific operation from the remote controller 99 or a menu key
97 which can output a signal which can be used to set data, a
numeric value indicative of a "skip number" is input from numeric
keys 98 which can input numeric data corresponding to "0" to "9" to
the control circuit 3, and a predetermined operation, e.g., turning
on an "end" key 96 is performed, thereby changing the "skip
number".
[0069] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the user operation portion
does not have to be of a one-push type that direct buttons (skip
keys 99a and 99b) are provided to the remote controller 99, a jog
type or a four-direction integrated arrow pad can be used, and
mechanical means is no object.
[0070] It is to be noted that the scene skip can be effected from
the pause state if the direction of the scene skip from the user
operation portion can be input to the control circuit 3. Therefore,
the playback process of the recorded video and audio cannot be a
condition to start the scene skip operation.
[0071] Meanwhile, in order to obtain the above-described file time,
the acquisition operation is roughly divided into the following two
patterns depending on a type of the recording medium and a format
of data.
[0072] (A) In the case of video data and audio data having a file
time (length), i.e., "reproduction time information" recorded
therein, simply reading a file length (reproduction time
information) from the recording medium can suffice.
[0073] In this case, the time per one skip can be readily obtained
by dividing the "reproduction time (reproduction time information)"
by the "skip number" stored in the firm memory or a ROM in the
control circuit 3.
[0074] Therefore, when recording of the entire program received
through the satellite broadcasting has been already terminated and
the file length is specified, or when reproducing the file whose
file length (time) is recorded in advance like a recording medium
or the like dedicated to reproduction as typified by a CD or a DVD,
the time per one skip can be easily obtained by dividing the read
file length by the "skip number".
[0075] (B) In case of the video data and the audio data whose file
time (length), i.e., "reproduction time information is unknown, the
file time acquisition circuit (arithmetic operation portion) 32 is
used to calculate a bit rate based on, e.g., a data size (data
amount) reproduced from the file and the time required to reproduce
that size, thereby acquiring the reproduction time (file length)
from the file size of the entire program.
[0076] It is to be noted that, as a method of calculating the bit
rate, an average value of the bit rate calculated by randomly
selecting some reproduction positions and reproducing the program
for a fixed time can be used. This method is particularly useful
when the bit rate greatly varies depending on the reproduction
positions.
[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates another example of the scene skip shown
in FIG. 4. Like the example described in connection with FIG. 4,
direction of the scene skip by the user operation portion can judge
whether the reproduction time information (file time) was
successfully acquired. When it was not acquired, the file time
calculation portion calculates the reproduction time based on the
file size.
[0078] Thereafter, like the example shown in FIG. 4, the scene skip
portion enables skip from the reproduction position where
reproduction is currently carried out to a scene at a position
obtained by dividing the time of the entire file at a fixed rate
of, e.g., {fraction (1/10)}. It is to be noted that reproduction is
effected from the position reached by skip under the control of the
control circuit 3 functioning as reproduction starting means.
[0079] In detail, for example, when the scene skip is directed by a
user at an arbitrary time that the video and audio are received
from the non-illustrated direct-broadcast satellite and
reproduction is carried out, i.e., at a reproduction position, the
file time of the currently reproduced file, i.e., presence/absence
of the reproduction time is detected (S11).
[0080] At step S11, if presence of the reproduction time is
detected when the scene skip is directed (S11--Yes), the
reproduction time is acquired (S12).
[0081] Then, the obtained reproduction time is divided based on the
preset "skip number", the scene skip enabled state is set and,
e.g., the skip key 99a of the remote controller 99 is pressed for
one time. As a result, a top of the next skip area (block {circle
over (4)} in FIG. 2), i.e., the read position in the recording
medium to be subsequently reproduced is set from the middle point
in the skip area (block {circle over (3)} in FIG. 2) including the
reproduction position at which the video and audio are currently
reproduced (S13).
[0082] Subsequently, the head is actually moved, and hence the read
position at which the video and audio are read from the recording
medium is skipped to the reproduction position after the directed
skip (S14).
[0083] Thereafter, the video and audio are continuously reproduced
from the time (reproduction position) to which the scene is skipped
at step S13 (S15).
[0084] It is to be noted that the reproduction time (file length)
is calculated by the file time acquisition circuit 32 if existence
of the reproduction time is not detected at step S11 (S11--No) when
the scene skip is directed (S16).
[0085] That is, the above-described file time acquisition circuit
32 calculates the bit rate based on, e.g., the data size reproduced
from the file and the time required for reproducing the size,
thereby acquiring the reproduction time (file length) from the file
size of the entire program.
[0086] As described above, by the skip control illustrated in FIG.
5, when there is no time information in the file itself, the file
time is calculated from the file size, thereby providing the scene
skip function.
[0087] FIG. 6 illustrates still another example of the scene skip
shown in FIG. 4. Although already described in connection with FIG.
4, when a direction of the scene skip is generated from the user
operation portion (remote controller 99) during reproduction of the
program, the scene skip portion performs skip from the reproduction
position at which reproduction is currently carried out to a scene
at a position obtained by dividing the time of the entire file at a
fixed rate of, e.g., {fraction (1/10)}.
[0088] At that time, a scene skip standby portion, i.e., the skip
frequency setting circuit 31 checks whether skip is subsequently
directed in a fixed period of time. It is needless to say that skip
is effected to the reproduction position directed by the last skip
command if skip is subsequently directed. Further, if there is no
skip command in a fixed period of time, the video and audio are
again reproduced from the reproduction position directed and set by
the preceding skip command.
[0089] In detail, when "skip" is directed by a user, a total time
of the file (one program) is obtained (S21).
[0090] Then, the scene skip enabled state is set by dividing the
obtained file time by the preset "skip number" and, e.g., the skip
key 99a of the remote controller 99 is pressed for one time. As a
result, a top of the next skip area (block {circle over (4)} in
FIG. 2), i.e., a read position in the recording medium to be
subsequently reproduced is set from the middle part in the skip
area (block {circle over (3)} in FIG. 2) including the reproduction
position at which the video and audio are currently reproduced
(S22).
[0091] Subsequently, when the head is actually moved, the read
position at which the video and audio are read from the recording
medium is skipped to the reproduction position after the directed
skip (S23).
[0092] At that time, the skip frequency setting circuit 31 checks
whether skip is subsequently directed in a fixed period of time
(S24). If skip is subsequently directed (S25--Yes), skip is
effected to the reproduction position directed by the last skip
command, and whether skip is directed in a fixed period of time is
again checked (S24).
[0093] On the other hand, if there is no skip command in a fixed
period of time (S25--No), the video and audio are reproduced from
the reproduction position directed and set by the preceding skip
(S26).
[0094] That is, by the skip control shown in FIG. 6, since
presence/absence of the skip command is detected by the scene skip
standby portion in a fixed period of time, the scene can be
continuously skipped when skip is subsequently directed.
[0095] As described above, in reproduction of the video file and
audio file in this embodiment, the apparatus capable of skipping to
the scene obtained by dividing the total time of one file at a
fixed rate can execute skip in a unit (scene) obtained by dividing
one file length (time) at a fixed rate (e.g., {fraction (1/10)}),
thereby skipping the scene with respect to the files having various
lengths at a uniform rate. Furthermore, providing the dedicated
buttons to the remote controller 99 can reduce the complication of
the user operations.
[0096] Incidentally, although the above has described the example
of using the hard disk as a recording medium on which digital
signals are recorded in the foregoing embodiment, the present
invention is not restricted thereto, and it is needless to say that
the present invention can employ any other disk medium or a memory
card which can randomly access data, as typified by a DVD-RAM and
the like.
[0097] Moreover, the present invention is not restricted to the
above embodiment, and various modifications/variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention on the embodying
stage. In addition, the respective modifications described in the
embodiment can be appropriately combined as long as such
combinations are possible, and the advantages from such
combinations can be obtained in that case.
* * * * *